10 Steps to Master Twitter like Ashton Kutcher
We saw the four stages of “getting” Twitter, so now’s the time to understand how to use it.
I know that many of people who read AndFarAway are not only very active on Twitter, but use it much more effectively than I do. The reason I’m writing this post because I am really, really tired of people giving up on Twitter after half a second and then deciding to claim that those who know how to use it are “dumb” and “narcissistic”.
Seriously. It’s easy. Just follow these awesomely easy 10 steps to use Twitter like a rockstar. I mean if all those lame celebrities can do it, I’m sure you can too.
10 Ways to Learn Twitter
1. Download the HootSuite Firefox plugin, TweetDeck application, or Echofon Firefox plugin.
Maybe even all three, because the truth is: the twitter.com interface sucks, and you won’t be enjoying Twitter if you’re stuck in your browser window.
2. RT. RT. RT.
RT stands for “retweet”, and you RT a tweet when you want to share something interesting said by someone else with your followers. An RT is like a personal recommendation. It’s very important to RT only interesting stuff, because it defeats the purpose otherwise. Be social. Support tweeps who said something useful or have an event they want to publicize.
3. Reply.
I don’t practice this point as much as I should, but as is the case with blogs, replying to tweets that you were tagged in is really very important.
4. Play Twitter Games.
Twitter games like FollowFriday and MusicMonday can make Twitter more fun and introduce you to interesting tweeps.
5. Share interesting links.
I mean, we all read stuff online all day, and there are so many awesome links that should be shared. Your followers would appreciate a great link, trust me.
6. Keep it simple, stupid.
There’s so much beauty in 140 characters. Mainly that people who shouldn’t blab can’t blab. Anything can be said in such a short format if it’s worth it.
7. Brand yourself consistently.
Choose one Twitter profile image and stick to it, for god’s sake. People who keep changing their Twitter profile pictures are so annoying, because when you’re looking at the stream, you are looking at icons, not names.
8. Schedule tweets.
Use HootSuite or any other similar tool to schedule tweets to assure that your account is constantly updated. Even if it’s a weekend.
9. It’s actually okay to tell your followers what you had for lunch.
As long as that’s not the only thing you say all week.
10. Notice the time pattern.
Depending on where you are in the world, you’ll notice that there are different time patterns. In Jordan, for example, tweeps are most active early in the morning (9:30 AM), around 12:00 PM, and around 4:00 PM. Target your coolest tweets at these times.
I hope this answers the question I am always being asked, “Why the hell do you like Twitter?”
Read the first post in this series of two: “The Four Stages of Getting Twitter”.
Don’t forget to follow me and to RT this post! :)
Tweets that mention 10 Steps to Master Twitter like Ashton Kutcher | And Far Away -- Topsy.com
June 22, 2010 @ 9:57 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Roba Al-Assi and EM ES, Qwaider Planet. Qwaider Planet said: 10 Steps to Master Twitter like Ashton Kutcher #GeekCulture (@RobaAssi) And Far Away → http://bit.ly/ap6AMf [...]
khalid jarrar
June 22, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
roba, i am sorry, after reading all your lines with great interest, i tried very hard to sympathyze and failed miserably, all i can think of now is: why would one want to spend so much effort, to understand ten points to try spend more too much effort to implement them all, three times a day, so we can finally use something -as you elequently put- as dumb and naracist? :D
i can hardly keep track of 5 times of prayer, now i have to add 3 times for tweeting, and 2 times for 7boob il`9a`396 resultig from all the efforts this will create?
naaah, sorry i am not sold! :)
Chris
June 23, 2010 @ 5:42 am
I trust your judgement on such matters… so if I do get around to it, I’ll definitely use these two posts as a guide. Personally, I think Twitter is a fantastic tool for disseminating useful information from the ground: earthquake relief needs, conflict zone warnings… wherever or whatever. Hell, even Ashton went from bitching about his neighbor to raising money for mosquito nets for Africans on Twitter… go figure! Now, if you use it for links or just plain chat time… so?! Don’t ever let someone try to make you feel bad about doing something like that. (Okay, Dr. Phil! :P) btw, even if I had it, I wouldn’t ever annoyingly yummy-foodie tweet you. :D
Bardees
June 24, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
Great tips Roba ,and spot on! I’m sending this post and the previous one to all my friends who still don’t get why I’m on twitter so much!
Twitted by TRiPLEM
June 26, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
[...] This post was Twitted by TRiPLEM [...]
Roba
June 27, 2010 @ 9:58 am
Khalid, I think you in particular will like tweeting! :) It doesn’t really need that much effort, just a push every now and then :)
Chris, I think that you can’t disseminate useful information unless you have an audience built on yum-food information, if know what I mean :)
Bardees, thanks ya gamar!
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